Another first...

I received a parental complaint last week.

The child in question is a sweet kid I had in the program last year. She's artistic and full of fun. All the other kids like her. Smart little person, too. I haven't had any issues with her. Her parents have been very nice to me and complimentary about the program.

One would think those parents would come talk to me if there is an issue or a concern.

We've had an open communication and as far as I know, everything has been fine.

But suddenly, Mia's mom doesn't like something I'm doing.
Or rather something I'm not allowing Mia (or anyone else) to do.

Did Mia's mom talk with me?

Nope.

She sent an email to Lisa, my manager person.
Mia is not having fun because I'm 'too strict'.

How am I too strict?
I won't let her child stand on top of the monkey bars. You know, the ones that are something like 8 feet off the ground, accessed by a ladder, made from metal tubes? The ones without a flat surface to stand on even if it wasn't too high?? Yeah, those.

Being a big jerk is what I do best. So I don't allow Mia or any other child to climb up on top of the monkey bars and stand. Mia wanted to argue about it. I told her that it's not safe.

"It's not just my rule, Mia. It's against school rules, too. So, no."

"But the playground teacher lets us!"

"Well, that may be happening during school, although it shouldn't. It's not going to happen during our program."

She gave me an angry look and stomped off to tell a few other kids about how mean I am. At least that's my assumption, they were all looking my way with their best grumpy faces on.

I didn't laugh at them. Well, not on the outside.

The email also included the comment that they're 'not allowed to yell'.

Well, yes they are. They're not allowed to SCREAM, though. Our rule is that you scream if you are hurt or scared. When a child screams, everyone looks their way. Until they get used to the screaming. Then what happens if the kid needs help and we're all desensitized to the screaming?

And it's obnoxious, too.

But yelling is okay. Unless they're mad and yelling in someone's face.

Another terrible thing I have done to poor Mia and her little friends is to explain that we are not a tumbling gym. That we aren't doing gymnastics. Run, jump, climb. Swing from the monkey bars. Use the slide. Swings. But no, you're not doing the splits or tumbling.

This pisses them off. "But I go to gymnastics!"
"Great. Then do those things at gymnastics."

Well, I guess Mia's mom doesn't like that rule, either.

I'm not likely to change the rules.
Safety is really important to me.
And whether they know it or not, important to them, too.

I don't let them climb on the bike racks under the covered area outside.

"But we get to do it at recess!!!"

"That's great. You don't get to do it here."

I have explained multiple times that the playground surface is bark and is more padded than asphalt. And that if they're going to fall (they are, they're kids) that I'd rather have them fall on a padded surface.

I checked in at the school office on Friday after hearing about the email.

I asked our school secretary about their playground rules to be sure they hadn't changed. Asked her if kids were allowed to stand on the monkey bars. She looked horrified. And maybe a little pissed when I told her that some of my kids were angry with me because I wasn't allowing them to do something they're getting away with during school hours.

"Oh no," she said, "They should NOT be allowing that!"

The principal came out of her office during the discussion and said she was going to do a refresher course with the playground staff, as those things were absolutely not okay with her.

So I guess Mia won't be standing on the monkey bars any time soon.
I wonder if her mom will email the school to complain.